Indicating system and signals for card indexes



May 27; 1924. 1,495,253

G. H. DAWSON INDICATING SYSTEM AND SIGNALS'FOR CARD INDEXES 4 Filed Dec. 5, 1921 Milli"! WW WMIHUIIIWIIMIIW FIRST SEUOIID THIRD NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE lil- Patented May 27, E24, i

will with are BUREAU, A. CORPGRATIQN OF NEW 5'" INDICATING SYSTEM AND SIGNALS FOE- GARD INDES.

Application filed December 5, 1921 serial No. 520,188,.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoacn H. Dawson, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cambridge, in the county of invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicating Systems and Signals for Card Indexes; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invent ionrelates to visible card index systems in which a series of cards are mounted in a tray or the like in overlapping relation with theirlower edges exposed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a system of indicators in combination with the cards whereby conditions of accounts or otheg special matter may be readily indicate My invention comprises the novel struc-.

ture arrangements and combinations hereinafter described and more particularly pointed at and defined in the appended claim.

n the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Fi re 1' is a fragmentary front elevationa view of a tray supporting a system of index cards involving my invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of a mounted card removed from the tray, on an enlarged scale. I

Figure 3.is a broken edge view of the mounted card shown in Figure 2, upon an enlarged scale.

Figure 4- is an edge view of the transpar ent protective sheet that covers the front,

face of the card, upon an enlarged scale with reference to Fig, 1.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate difierently colored indicators forming part of this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

For the pur ose of illustrating my invention, I have s own a card tray or frame 1 having guide channels in its lateral edges for receiving the ends of the cardrsupporting bars 2 to which the flexible hinge members 3 are secured which in turn removably support the index: cards 4. For this purpose, flexible hinge members are provided with studs 5 to which inwardly turned flaps 6 on the hinge members are elongated notches at their upper lateral edges vwhich are designed to receive said The cards are studs under the flaps 6. mounted and removed from the studs by flexing-the same between the notches as is obvious, V

Each card is protected on its front face by means of a transparent sheet 7 havin a lower upwardly turned flange 8 desie to rest against the rear surface of the card when the same is mounted. The upperlateral edgesof each transparent sheet are provided with notches adapted to aline with the notches in the card so that the transparent sheet may be superposed on the front face of the card with the card between the flange 8 and the main portion thereof and be mounted simultaneously with the card on the same support Y I The exposed edge of each card is adapted to have the name of a customer, client, or

I secured, and the cards are provided with Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have any person or firm written thereon, as indi- J eating his or their account or data, and as it is'frequently desirable to tell at a glance the nature of the account or data, standing of-theperson, or amount due, or for any other purpose, difilerently colored indicators 9, 19 and 11 are used for the difierent cards; each difierent color having a certain signifi-" cation. tabs of any suitable material such as celluloid having narrow -lips 12' which engage around the bottom and rear of the cards inside the transparent sheet 7 as shown in Figure 3. They are usually applied before the sheet 7 is superposed on the card and may be adjusted to any longitudinal. positionthereon, for indicating further information. And for the purpose of designating this information, an index element 12 is preferably mounted in the tray above the uppermost card and marked with the information designating the different adjustments. For the purpose of illustration, said index element 12 is shown as giving information relative to three difierent adjustmcnts of the indicators, the first position of an indicator constituting first notice, the second position constituting second notice, and-the third position constituting third notice. It is, however, contemplated. that These indicators comprise small the difierent adjustments of the indicators may be used to convey or indicate any di1E- ferent or desired information.

' It is further desirable at times to call to specially designate certain ones of a group and for this purpose I have shown apertures 13 in certain indicators at random, and these apertures may serve as symbols for calling particular attention to those cards or designating them from others of the same class.

- These indicators are always in plain View, so an observer can tell at a glance the condition of afiairs relative to the person, firm or data recorded on the difierent index cards, and the task of examining the difierent cards is reduced to a minimum and much time; and labor is saved thereby.

I am aware that numerous details ofoon= menses struction may be varied through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and It therefore do not purpose limitingthe patent granted thereon, otherwise than necessitated bytheprior art.

ll claim as my invention:

In a cardrindex system, a support comprising a hinge member, a card removably attached to said hingememberyan indicator having a lip engaging over the lower edge of said card, and a transparent sheet having a lower lip engaging over said indicator and removably attached to said hingemember.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribedmy name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEQRGE H. DAWSQN,

Witnesses:

E. B. Amer, F. M. lameness. 

